After the death of local Realtor Mitch Farmer, friends, co-workers and family are coming together to continue the June Jam benefit concert he began four years ago.

Farmer began the summer concert in Gainesville to raise money for local organizations and charities. The first year, Farmer booked local favorites April Cummings, King Daddy Polecats and Peggie Hoskins & The Vertigo Band to play the Brenau Amphitheater. The second year was headlined by former “American Idol” star Diana Degarmo.

The third year brought on a whole new set of struggles, including a heart condition that Farmer suffered from. The husband and father died last year.

“Last year Mitch was going to do it, but his health got so bad that it couldn’t happen,” said Matthew Meeks of Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners, Farmer and Meeks were business co-owners and partners. “So this year we decided to have it ... to keep the legacy going for something that Mitch started that he believed in so much.”

So Meeks organized the concert as Farmer’s legacy.

“It’s just something that I believe in and something that he believed in,” he said. “We are hoping to continue it every year. Mitch was my brother; we were best friends ... we had our sales team at Keller Williams and we were partners for about eight years.”

Performing at June Jam this year will be Peggie Hoskins & The Vertigo Band, The Last Minute Band, Allen Nivens Band and King Daddy Polecats.

“We’ve got some really great charities that we are giving to,” Meeks said. “We decided to give money to the Mason Guest House at Emory, and it is a long-term housing facility for family members or people that are going through organ transplants. It gives them an affordable place to stay.”

Each band will have about an hour to perform during the benefit.

There will be a silent auction and raffle items including vacations, gym memberships, salon services, fishing trips and art. Part of the money raised from the raffle and silent auction, children’s activities and bake sale will go to Farmer’s daughter Olivia’s trust fund. The Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocates also will receive part of the proceeds from the event.

Kids games will cost $5, which will include an unlimited play time jump zone, balloons and face painting.

Food will be available from The Varsity and guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs, adult beverages, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers. In case of rain, the concert will move into the gym on the Brenau campus.

“I just want to be able to carry something on in his memory that I know was close to his heart,” Meeks said.